State commission still opposed to South Shore Hospital merger plan

Wednesday

Feb 19, 2014 at 3:51 PMFeb 19, 2014 at 8:05 PM

A state commission created to help rein in health care costs isn't budging from its opposition of a proposed takeover of South Shore Hospital and an affiliated physician's group by Boston-based hospital chain Partners HealthCare despite push-back from the entities.

Christian Schiavone The Patriot Ledger @CSchiavo_Ledger

BOSTON -- A state commission created to help rein in health care costs isn't budging from its opposition of a proposed takeover of South Shore Hospital and an affiliated physician's group by Boston-based hospital chain Partners HealthCare despite push-back from the entities.

The Health Policy Commission on Wednesday voted to finalize a report on the proposed merger that says the deal would drive up costs by at least $23 million to $26 million a year and force out health care competition south of Boston without significantly improving care. The commission's vote also included a referral to the state attorney general's office, which is scrutinizing the proposed merger.

The final report's conclusions mirror those of a preliminary report released in December despite a lengthy response from the hospital and Partners saying the commission used "flawed reasoning," and arguing the deal would actually cut costs. Commission members weren't convinced.

"Our position as a commission hasn't moved one bit," commission member Dr. Paul Hattis said.

Partners announced its intention to merge with the 378-bed Weymouth hospital in June 2012. In July 2013, Partners' Brigham and Women's Hospital began the process to acquire Harbor Medical Associates, which has 65 physicians at several locations on the South Shore.

Partners and the hospital's response urged the commission to strike the bulk of its findings from the final report and withdraw the referral to the state attorney general's office.

In a meeting with Patriot Ledger reporters and editors last week, hospital President and CEO Richard Aubut and Partners President and CEO Dr. Gary Gottlieb again defended the merger plan.

The commission doesn't have the power to block the merger. It's unclear how much weight the commission's position will carry with the attorney general's office and the U.S. Department of Justice, which is also reviewing the proposal.